Mary Louise Forbes

Mary Lou Forbes was born on March 30, 1927, the third child of Stephen and Clarice Waligore, in Detroit, Michigan. She attended St. Clare of Montefalco School, Commerce High School and the Walsh Institute, after which she worked as a bookkeeper for Parke- Davis. She met her husband of 62 years, Earl, in Grayling, Michigan on a ski weekend. He fell head over heels despite the black eye she earned on the slopes. They were married on May 20, 1950. She was the chief cook and bottle washer for Forbes Landscape Contractors for nearly 50 years. They spent the first 23 winters of marriage on Fort Myers Beach, Florida, first with Earl’s parents, later with their children.

Mary Lou also served for many years as the treasurer of Ray Township, Michigan and was active in the Michigan Farm Bureau and St. Clement of Rome church. Earl and Mary Lou had a very full social life and will always be remembered for their love of dancing and the joy they brought to others by the numerous square dances they called. After Earl’s death in 2012, Mary Lou moved to Windsor, Ontario, residing at Amica Riverside where she made many new friends and sang in the choir at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic church.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Earl as well as her parents, brothers Robert and Richard and sister Jeanette. She is survived by her sons Gary (Karen) of Port Townsend, Washington, James (Vicki) of Troy, Michigan, John (Candice) of Dallas, Texas, daughter Julie (Maurice) Adoranti of Windsor, Ontario and very special niece Nancy (Ken) Josefiak of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan. She also leaves 6 loving grandchildren- Eleanor, Sarah, Andrew, Clarice, Emily and Matthew.

Though there will be a small family service at this time, we look forward to a full celebration of her life with a memorial service and dance when we are all able to join together. In lieu of flowers, the family will have a memorial tree planted at a Park in Windsor, memorial donations may be made to the family for the Memorial Tree Fund in honour of Mary Lou.